Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

With ambulance costs skyrocketing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) moved on a No Surprises Act provision to improve ground transport.

Details: On Nov. 19, CMS announced the “establishment of a new federal advisory committee, the Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee,” which is aimed at thwarting balance billing and price gouging in ambulance services, an agency release indicates.

CMS will be accepting nominations for leadership positions on the committee through Dec. 13. After the GAPB team is chosen, participants should expect to meet at least twice and compile a final report on ways to improve ground ambulance service policies and cut consumer costs.

“Protecting people from devastating surprise medical bills, especially for something beyond their control like needing an ambulance during an emergency, is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. We invite subject matter experts to apply for membership on the GAPB Advisory Committee and provide thoughtful recommendations that will help prevent balance billing and alleviate burdensome financial challenges for consumers,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in a release about the committee.

Find the notice, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 23, at www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/23/2021-25560/ground-ambulance-and-patient-billing-advisory-committee.